Trailer wheel assembly



Feb. 22, 1938. M, DAYTON 2,109,311

TRA ILER WHEEL AS SEMBLY Filed July 1, 1935 INVENTOR BY 7 9 l /ATT0RNEY6 Patented Feb. 22, 1938 PATENT OFFICE TRAILER WHEEL ASSEMBLY Ms: E. Dayton, Rockford, Ill., assignmto Bamax Machine 00., Inc., Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 1, 1935, Serial No. 29.252

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in trailer wheel assemblies.

The object of my invention is to provide a unitary assembly comprising a spindle and wheel with a short frame unit with which the spindle may be unitarily associated in conjunction with a spring.

More particularly stated, it is the object of my invention to provide in a comparatively small assembly unit a short piece of iron frame, a journal, a spindle wheel and a particularly effective spring whereby the manufacturer of a trailer may incorporate my trailer wheel assembly into a home made trailer frame. In the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan of a trailer frame in which my trailer wheel units have been installed. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views. Large numbers of trailers are now constructed in an infinite variety of shapes and sizes whereby to transport specific loads and such trailers 25 are usually custom built. Under such conditions, to conform the shape and size of the trailer to the usual rigid axle and conventional spring mountings and width of tread involves difliculties which it is the purpose of my invention to 30 avoid and I have therefore provided in my invention for a unitary assembly of the necessary parts associated with a single wheel to the end that a manufacturer or builder of a special trailer, or of a standard trailer frame may, after com- 35 pleting the frame dispose my wheel elements at either side of the trailer at any convenient point to accomplish the desired supporting result, and because my wheel assembly includes the supporting spring structure and means whereby to 40 control the various torsional stresses involved in the support of a trailer structure, my wheel unit is particularly adaptable to the problems of trailer construction.

As shown in the drawing, my unit includes 45 a. short frame In preferably of angle iron and provided with a bearing block ll. Through this hearing block is fitted the shaft l2 of a spindle arm l3, near the end of which is a spindle Hi to receive a wheel l5 shown in dotted lines. 50 Spaced from the bearing block ll upon the interior face of the angle iron frame It I provide a spring pad It to which is secured one end of a spring H which is shaped in the form of a spiral l8 about the shaft I! of the spindle arm 55 and is provided with an extended substantially straight portion H to be received in the spring pad ii.

The inner convolutions of the spiral portion II of the spring l1 terminate at 2|! in a diametrically disposed straight portion receivable in a slot 2| in a hub 22 upon shaft i2, and a cap 23 upon the end of the hub 22 prevents the spring from being dislodged from its working position with reference to the spindle arm and shaft. The spring I1 is so gauged as to strength and shape of its convolution's as to properly dispose the spindle when the device is loaded. I provide at 24 a bumper pad of rubber or other suitable materlal supported by a saddle 25 to contact with a bumper pad 28 upon the spindle arm IS in the event that a shock or overload tends to put excess stresses upon the spring ll.

From the above description it will be apparent that my unitary assembly including the frame ID, the spindle shaft I2 and spindle arm l3, together with spring It, comprises an easily usuable unit to be installed in conjunction with a trailer frame 30 which I have shown in the drawing as a conventional, rectangular frame of wood, but which may be of any size or shape and constructed of any materials to which my angle iron frame Iii may be attached by bolts 3| or other suitable means of attachment.

Unde ordinary loading conditions and with the use of ordinary strength trailer frame materials, the unit which I have thus far described would be extremely satisfactory, but under some circumstances where the materials of the trailer frame 30 may be of such a size and shape as to require reinforcement against the torsional stresses induced by the offset relation of the wheels 15 to the longitudinal axis of the side members of the frame 30, I provide at upon the inner face of the angle iron frame ill a brace pad to receive a strut 35 which may be bolted at 31 to the brace pads 35 and thus resist the torsional stresses upon the side members of the frame 30.

My unitary wheel assembly, when installed in conjunction with any frame 30 of a trailer, is readily attachable to the trailer frame and does not require conventional trailer frame configuration. It is sufficient if there be a short length of trailer frame 30 in the side members thereof to be received in the angle iron frame it], thus dispensing with axle structure and other cumbersome elements of the usual trailer chassis.

I claim:

In a trailer frame and wheel construction a comparatively light body frame, oppositely positioned individually sprung wheels, spindles tor the wheels having a crank-like configuration extending laterally of the trailer frame and having a short, comparatively stifl' spindle Irame quickly attachable to the body frame to provide a mounting for said spindles, a terminal for the spindle insid the body frame. a torsion spring extending from the spring terminal to the spindle frame to receive the weight load upon the body frame,'a brace pad comprising a portion of the spindle frame extended inwardly of the trailer frame and a strut extending between the brace pads whereby to resist torsional strains upon the spindle frame by reason oi the external disposition of the spindle cranks.

MAX E. DAYTON. 

